I wouldn’t say I have had much luck with the weather the last days. Just like yesterday the rain was falling as I was having breakfast with Morten in his apartment at the foot of the Alps. It was tempting to stay indoors, but my Swiss friend Roman from Bern was coming by train to Montreux and our plan was to ride to Lausanne together.

Nothing to do but to put on a jacket and roll down to the train station to meet Roman.

As we left Montreux and cycled into the wine fields the lake and the mountains were covered in an eerie mist. I knew the road since the Montreux to Lausanne ride was my favourite when I lived in Switzerland.

Back then I would describe the view over the wine fields and lake as one of the most beautiful I had ever seen. Now that I have been around the world that opinion hasn’t changed. The only thing was that the weather didn’t really cooperate so I’m afraid you will have to imagine the sunshine and clear skies yourself.

It was great to catch up with Roman who I have been in regular contact with over the course of the last six years as I have helped develop his project RePowerMap.org.

After some rather steep climbs through the wine fields we finally ended up in Lausanne where Roman took the train back to Bern and I continued north towards the Jura mountains. The road took me back through the campus of EPFL, my old university where I had studied 10 years ago. Once again everything turn was a trip down memory lane.

I then passed my old apartment and couldn’t help stopping for a quick look around. Sometimes we all get a bit nostalgic, don’t we?

With another rain shower moving in I decided I might as well call it a day, put up my tent, and try to keep everything dry. Switzerland is an expensive country, but with everyone minding their own business I imagined wild camping would work rather well. That turned out to be true…

Tomorrow my quick visit to my old adapted country will already be over. It has been great catching up with old friends. Over the Jura mountains and back into France is the plan for tomorrow.

First I want to thank you for each of your articles on the blog. I started reading it from article 1 a few weeks ago, and haven’t stopped since. Your stories are great and I must admit I can kind of identify to you.

I am a student at the Université de Lausanne, currently in exchange in Montreal, Canada. I just feel the same way as you about the exchange. It openned my mind and allowed me to meet people from all over the world.
I am glad you enjoy the landscapes around Lausanne and the lac Léman. This little piece of the world has a true importance to anyone who stayed there. I picture exactly how cycling around the lake is, and did it every day from Vevey to Lausanne for several years !

Soon it is going to be my turn to go on cycling adventures, starting it easily with a little tour around Quebec and Nova Scotia.

Thanks for your comment – so nice to know you have been enjoying the blog. Yes, Lausanne was a special place for me and I really enjoyed my time at EPFL and even had some courses at UNIL 🙂

I’m wishing you a great cycling trip to Quebec and Nova Scotia – there are some really friendly people there. If you get a chance you should also visit Newfoundland, but I know it’s a bit out of the way.